Secondary uterine inertia

This code signifies a condition where the uterus, after initially contracting effectively during labor, subsequently loses its contractile strength, leading to a prolonged or arrested labor progression. It indicates a secondary failure of uterine contractions to achieve cervical dilation or fetal descent.

This code is appropriate when a patient experiences a deceleration or cessation of labor progress after a period of active labor with adequate contractions. Documentation should clearly indicate initial effective uterine activity followed by subsequent hypotonic dysfunction, often requiring interventions like oxytocin augmentation or operative delivery.

• Differentiate from primary uterine inertia (O62.0), which involves inadequate contractions from the onset of labor.
• Ensure documentation specifies "secondary" to support this code, rather than a general "uterine inertia."
• Consider co-reporting with codes for prolonged labor (e.g., O63.0) or arrested labor (e.g., O63.1) if applicable.